Australian pop star Kylie Minogue has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The 36-year-old singer learned that she has "early breast cancer" while visiting with family in Melbourne earlier this week. Minogue will begin treatment right away and has postponed a tour of Australia and Asia, according to her touring agent, the Frontier Touring Co.

"Whilst at home in Melbourne with her family this week prior to her Australian Showgirl Tour, Kylie was diagnosed with early breast cancer," the statement from Frontier said. "She will undergo immediate treatment, and consequently her Australian tour will not be able to proceed as planned."

Minogue, a former child star and soap actress ("Neighbours") who has risen to pop icon status across the globe, was slated to start the biggest Australian tour of her career on Thursday and apologized to fans for pulling out of the dates.

"I was so looking forward to bringing the Showgirl Tour to Australian audiences, and am sorry to have to disappoint my fans," Minogue said in a statement. "Nevertheless, hopefully all will work out fine, and I'll be back with you all again soon." The Asian dates of her Showgirl Tour have also been postponed indefinitely.

"It was diagnosed this morning," Minogue's friend and Australian concert promoter Michael Gudinski told Reuters on Tuesday (May 17). "She is a pretty fit, strong girl. I'm hoping and praying because the doctor found it so early that everything will be OK. Our thoughts, and I'm sure all the legions of Kylie's fans, will be with her all the way," he said.

Minogue, who finally broke through in the U.S. in 2001 with her worldwide hit "Can't Get You Out of My Head," has worked diligently in the past to raise awareness about cancer. In 2002, one of her bras sold for $6,880 at an auction to raise money for breast cancer awareness. The singer has also spoken out about prostate cancer, following her father's diagnosis with the disease.